Two Women, from the series Spring Poems on Ushiwaka for the Year of the Ox (Ushiwaka haru) 1805

Hishikawa Sōri's woodblock print, "Two Women, from the series Spring Poems on Ushiwaka for the Year of the Ox," was created in Japan in the early 19th century. It offers a glimpse into the cultural and social context of the Edo period. The print depicts two women engaged in a scene that blends everyday life with allusions to classical literature. The refined aesthetics of the composition, the elegant attire of the figures, and the presence of calligraphy indicate an educated and cultured milieu. This wasn't simply an image, but it was also a cultural performance where the artist and viewers participated in upholding a shared system of values. What do we make of this piece today? We can begin by researching the poems inscribed on the print, cross-referencing them with literary and historical texts to discover its meanings. In doing so, we are actively reconstructing the social and institutional contexts that gave it meaning in its own time.